Two years ago, the RETEXCAT project launched with the ambition to strengthen textile waste management in Catalonia by addressing three key challenges: (1) improving post-consumer textile collection and sorting systems; (2) increasing the quality of recycled fibres to enable their reintroduction into the fashion value chain; and (3) integrating eco-design into new collections created with these recycled materials.
To validate these opportunities, six pilot cases were carried out involving different types of fashion companies. Major retailers such as Mango and System Action, children’s fashion brand Boboli, and iconic Catalan labels including Yerse, Sita Murt and Simorra collaborated with industrial partners to test the feasibility of establishing a local circular value chain in Catalonia. MODACC played a central role in facilitating the implementation of these pilots and supporting consortium members throughout the process.
The results were presented during an event hosted at Mango’s headquarters, where attendees could explore the final garments developed through the project. Several insights were shared, and three stand out:
- Catalonia’s textile and fashion industry is capable of producing good-quality recycled textiles at relevant volumes using post-consumer waste.
- Some limitations persist regarding scalability, volume, demand generation and cost reduction, which need to be addressed to fully consolidate the model.
- Market uptake of eco-designed recycled garments remains highly dependent on regulatory clarity and upcoming EU requirements.
With 35 prototypes, 311 eco-designed garments and five take-back systems piloted, RETEXCAT officially concludes—but its influence will continue to shape the Catalan ecosystem as the region advances toward a fully viable circular fashion model.
